The Brazilian industry is facing a difficult year, without major prospects for growth in the medium or short term. With the market down, the processes that optimize investments and minimize risks have increasingly drawn the attention of entrepreneurs. Many companies are investing, for example, in programs such as Software Asset Management, as its impact in the planning of a corporation.
By adopting a management policy, the company has the possibility of improving one number of processes and the advantages go beyond cost savings. With the methodology, improves to security and compliance, one can anticipate future software needs, automate manual processes for greater efficiency and prepare for technology upgrades. It is a practice in which all company departments gain, from IT to the Board.
To adopt the Asset Management, the first step is to make an inventory of all deployed software – either manually (in the case of SMEs) or by automated tools. With the results in hand, the client can compare the fact that programs have with the current licenses of the company, making sure that the contracts include all securities and the listed versions.
This step is essential to identify a counterfeit copy or improper use of a license – two actions that configure the software piracy. Such practices can bring civil penalties and legal to the corporation, with indemnity payment and imprisonment (which can reach up to four years). In addition to adversely expose the brand in the market and bring financial losses, piracy also makes the company vulnerable to cyber crimes, caused by infection of viruses, malware and even theft of data.
After comparing the inventory with contracts, it is important to review policies and procedures related to the life cycle of software and regulation of government. You can determine the versions that will be adopted, which programs are allowed and you can connect external devices (such as a pen drive) in hardware, among other directions. Thus, the client can avoid future compliance issues, either in the external environment (manufacturers and government) or internal (employees).
It is essential also that the company develop an Asset Management Planning Software that includes regularly scheduled inventory, employee training and random checks. By SAM methodology (Software Asset Management), for example, the corporation can achieve savings of 5% to 35% in licensing the first year of implementation of the project – according to statistics from Gartner Group consulting
. market must be aware that the effective control of IT assets provides an efficient management of the corporate network and promotes the creation of transparent rules for routine work. In uncertain economic times, the Software Asset Management should be a priority for those who deal with software and licenses, since it is an essential tool to ensure business competitiveness. It is worth remembering that when a company does not properly manage its assets, it is inevitable rising costs, which eventually reflected in the final price of the product or service. One way or another, the bill always arrives. Why, then, not avoid it
Adriano Vieira – President of Compusoftware Solutions & amp; Reseller, enterprise software licensing company, asset management and infrastructure services
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